The New Meaning Of "Monkey Suit"
The kill shelter operators known as PETA have taken it upon themselves to demand the copyright control (and money from it) of a macaque monkey who pushed the button on a camera on a tripod set up by Brit nature photographer David Slater.
From CBSLA story, "PETA Sues To Give Monkey The Copyright Of Selfie Photos"
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A macaque monkey who took now-famous selfie photographs should be declared the copyright owner of the photos, rather than the nature photographer who positioned the camera, animal-rights activists contend in a novel lawsuit filed Tuesday. The suit was filed in federal court in San Francisco by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It seeks a court order allowing PETA to administer all proceeds from the photos for the benefit of the monkey, which it identified as 6-year-old Naruto, and other crested macaques living in a reserve on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.The photos were taken during a 2011 trip to Sulawesi by British nature photographer David Slater. Through San Francisco-based self-publishing company Blurb, he has published a book called "Wildlife Personalities" that includes the "monkey selfie" photos.
However, the photos have been widely distributed elsewhere by outlets, including Wikipedia, which contend that no one owns the copyright to the images because they were taken by an animal, not a person. Slater, who is exploring legal action against some of those outlets, said he was "very saddened" by PETA's lawsuit because he considers himself an advocate of animal rights.
Last year, the U.S. Copyright Office issued an updated compendium of its policies, including a section stipulating that it would register copyrights only for works produced by human beings. It specified that works produced by animals, whether a photo taken by a monkey or a mural painted by an elephant, would not qualify.








Peta manages the Tangkoko Nature Reserve? How do they have any leg to stand on in this lawsuit? Are they claiming ownership of all animals everywhere?
Ben at September 23, 2015 6:25 AM
"It seeks a court order allowing PETA to administer all proceeds from the photos for the benefit of the monkey..."
Yeah. Uh huh. And how big a chunk does PETA want for the "administrative expenses"? I thought so. If the judge had any balls, he'd call a show-cause hearing, dismiss the suit, and fine PETA and the plaintiff lawyers for wasting the court's time with this frivolous action.
Cousin Dave at September 23, 2015 6:48 AM
This is nothing but a money grab. And when the monkey is dead, PETA will continue to "administer all proceeds" for the benefit of all monkeys (aka PETA).
Conan the Grammarian at September 23, 2015 9:06 AM
I've heard of a kangaroo court but this??
Ah the hypocrisy of PETA:
Someone needs to explain it to them;
If Animals have the same rights as people than your efforts to put animals as pets = slave trade.
Also shelters = wrong full imprisonment.
and kill shelters = murder.
Explain it to them then arrest them.
As to why they have any bearing as a part of this lawsuit, I would entertain them claiming to be monkeys uncles.
Joe J at September 23, 2015 11:21 AM
Leave a comment